Michelle Orpe

Michelle Orpe - TV presenter and poker journalist.

She is also a former sponsored poker pro as well as being the Voice of the EPT for Channel 4 and Sky Sports.

She rose to prominence as the lead presenter of the hugely popular Sky Poker programme, which involved 4 hours of live presenting, twice a week, where she would analise the play along with the studio 'expert' and interview celebrity guests.

During that same period between 2007-2009, she was also the lead presenter for Poker Night Live. 5 hours of live interaction with poker players via emails and call-ins, twice a week.

Michelle is a well loved and respected poker 'face' and one of the most recognisable, especially among the UK Poker Community.

Here, in her own words, is a tale she recalls with fond memories....

Has to be my first live game in Las Vegas.

I was working as an Affiliate Manager for Purple Lounge Poker and was sent last minute to experience Las Vegas and look after the companies pro's.

I was so excited to be going, quickly packed, jumped on Virgin and arrived 10 hours later. 

With no idea where I was going or what I was doing I dropped my stuff off at the Flamingo where I was staying (since then it has always been the Mirage) and rushed off to the nearest game I could find, which was the MGM Grand randomly, don't know how I ended up all the way over there.

At the point I sat down at the table, slightly freaked out by seeing a caged lion on my way, I had been awake for about 22 hours. I sat in a $1/$2 game which I quickly found out was a very expensive way to lose a lot of money very quickly. 

I was drip fed bottles of beer by the waitresses and must of donked off about $100 in 10 minutes before I thought it best to give up and get some sleep.

I left the table in style of course, well by style I mean in the most embarrassing way possible.

I mucked up a bluff and threw my cards on the table, one landed in the lap of another player who lifted it back onto the table, laid it down next to my other card and politely informed me that I actually had a straight.

I quickly picked up my chips and left, tripped over my chair and fell flat on my face. 

The most embarrassing moment of my poker career, without a doubt. My ordeal didn't end there though. 

On my way back to my hotel room I got accosted by my good friend Karim and ended up partying the night away at 'Pure' nightclub in Caesars palace with Liv Boeree and Marc Convey. 

We were at a VIP table so the drinks were all paid for and coming thick and fast, being from Essex I made the most of this. I ended up crawling back to my hotel at 3 in the morning after being awake for nearly 30 hours and threw up over a random American trying to hit on me...Good Times